FRANK Gray’s priority in the transfer window is to bring in a striker — although he admitted it would most likely be a loanee from a Football League club.

The Cards’ boss may be handed funds raised from the supporters’ club to help finance the acquisition of one, possibly two players.

But the funds will not stretch far enough to bring in a proven goalscorer at Blue Square Premier level. “We are looking at other positions in the team but the priority would be a striker,” said Gray. “We’ve already been working on that and seeing who is likely to be available and we have some names already.

“It’s about getting the right one in, for what we’ve got, and that player might come from a lower level, or from a Football League club who might want someone to go out and get some games between now and the end of the season.”

Gray confirmed that Joe Gatting has returned to Brighton after his loan spell and that he hopes to keep midfielder Kevin James, although he conceded the player might be tempted to go elsewhere in the transfer window if he gets the sort of offer Woking can’t give him.

“I want to keep Kevin until the end of the season but what we can offer him might not be what Kevin would accept,” he added.

Woking face an intense schedule of matches, including the FA Trophy second round clash at home to Aldershot Town on January 12.

On Saturday they host Stevenage in the Setanta Shield, before a Boxing Day showdown with The Shots at Kingfield (12pm). Torquay United visit Surrey on Saturday December 29 before The Cards visit The Rec for the return with Aldershot Town on New Year’s Day (3pm).

Then comes Halifax at home on January 5 — and a third meeting with Garry Waddock’s Blue Square Premier league leaders a week later in the cup.

“They are big games and we are looking forward to them,” said Gray. “The FA Trophy draw is a good one and you prefer to play in games like that.

“I think all three Aldershot games will be very different from each other and Stevenage at home will interesting.”

The Boro game on Saturday is likely to attract the lowest Woking v Stevenage crowd in history but Gray added: “We welcome the game. “It would be different if it was cramped in between league matches but we’ll have had a week to prepare for it.

“Marvin Morgan is back from suspension and needs a game and Matt Pattison’s back too. We would like to win it.”

Jay Gasson, Giuseppe Sole and Paul Lorraine are all on four bookings going in to the weekend — and just one booking away form missing the Torquay match should they get yellow carded on Saturday. Gray may opt to rest them, as a yellow card on Boxing Day would mean they could play in the Christmas and New Year games because of the seven-day role.

Bradley Quamina and Jerome Maledon should be available again after injury — giving Gray a fully fit squad.